Chapter 94: In the end, didn’t you still go eagerly? [Three updates]

Chapter 94: In the End, Didn't He Still Go Running Over? [Third Watch]

Wei Xinzhu was not at all surprised by Jiang Yunran’s response.

From the moment she stepped out of the palace gates, she had already planned everything. Their sitting face to face today was simply the natural outcome of their shared desires.

Their inner voices.

Wei Xinzhu leaned back on the bed, wrapped in a thick quilted coat, her face deathly pale, yet her expression was unexpectedly calm.

There was no grief, no resentment, not even anxiety.

It was as if she had already accepted the fact that Yin Zhui was no longer among the living.

Yin Zhui was missing, and the senior maid now serving her was Amber.

A few junior maids were busy outside, their eyes brimming with tears, their expressions dazed—undoubtedly, they were all deeply saddened.

The entire eastern side hall was oppressively gloomy. Only Amber possessed a steady disposition; though she wore no smile, she worked efficiently, never letting emotions interfere with her duties.

After serving Jiang Yunran hot tea, Amber brought Wei Xinzhu her herbal medicine and then discreetly withdrew.

Perhaps it was Wei Xinzhu’s habit to take her medicine unassisted; she picked up the white porcelain bowl herself and downed the thick brew in one gulp.

Without even a flicker of a frown.

After taking the medicine, she sipped some honey water to cleanse her palate before turning her gaze back to Jiang Yunran.

"After taking medicine for so many years, my tongue has gone numb—I can’t taste bitterness, sweetness, sourness, or tang," Wei Xinzhu said with a bitter smile. "Actually, there’s no need to even prepare honey water."

Jiang Yunran sat quietly beside her, listening to her musings.

The snow had stopped.

Outside, the sky was brightly lit.

The morning sun cast its radiant light upon the pristine white snow, making the azure sky appear even more charming.

A timely snow promises a good harvest, an auspicious sign.

Lanterns illuminated the chamber, casting a bright glow. Jiang Yunran could clearly see Wei Xinzhu’s slender wrists, the veins bulging, the acupuncture needle marks stark and glaring.

"Yun Ran, may I call you that?"

Jiang Yunran lifted her eyes and looked at her calmly. "Sister, please speak your mind."

Wei Xinzhu nodded. Her gaze fell upon the pearl powder placed before the dressing mirror, and she suddenly said, "Yin Zhui was always very meticulous."

"She knew I had been ill for a long time, my complexion always sallow and ashen, so she specially prepared pearl powder for me to conceal my sickly appearance."

"Later, when my cough flared up again, she stayed with me day and night. Whenever I coughed, she would wake me and soothe my throat with loquat syrup."

"Back then, we depended on each other. She grew even thinner than I did from the exhaustion."

As she spoke, Wei Xinzhu couldn't help but cough again.

She exhaled and even managed a faint smile at Jiang Yunran.

"Before, I always wished to get better quickly, to recover soon. Once I was well, I would go out to enjoy the scenery and have the energy to finish all the books I hadn’t read. Now that I’m coughing less and my illness seems seemingly better, I don’t feel particularly happy."

Wei Xinzhu’s illness was far from cured; she was already terminally ill.

Her "recovery" was merely a result of acupuncture to prolong her life, trading years of her life for a brief period of relative health.

"People are truly full of contradictions."

Wei Xinzhu smiled again as she spoke.

Her face was pale, her lips devoid of color—even the sallow, ashen tone of severe illness was gone. It was as if the blood in her body had been drained along with her dwindling lifespan.

"You must be curious how I found out."

Jiang Yunran listened quietly. These were things Wei Xinzhu had no one else to confide in; she was the only one who could listen.

Her visit today was partly to accept the collaboration offer and partly to keep her company and hear her out.

"How did you find out?"

Jiang Yunran was also curious.

Wei Xinzhu smiled and said, "Back when my rank was low, I always brewed my medicine within my own palace. Though the smell was strong and it required effort, I couldn’t get help from the Imperial Hospital at the time."

"After I became Baolin, all my medicine was brewed by the Imperial Hospital. Every day, a young apprentice pharmacist would deliver it personally. I just needed to heat it up before drinking—convenient and hassle-free."

"A few days before the banquet at Changchun Palace, Yin Zhui returned one day and suddenly said we would brew the medicine ourselves from then on."

Jiang Yunran understood.

Likely, what Yin Zhui discovered had something to do with the Imperial Hospital.

Jiang Yunran accompanied her in analyzing: "Yin Zhui was clever and cautious. She didn’t dare alert anyone, so she could only protect you this way."

Wei Xinzhu chuckled softly.

"Yes, she was such a good girl."

At this, the smile vanished from Wei Xinzhu’s face.

She sighed and said, "At the time, I asked her why she was doing this. She said she saw the young apprentices at the Imperial Hospital often dozing off, and when the medicine boiled dry, they would just add water—the potency must’ve been weakened."

"Now that you are also a Beauty, with more servants in the palace, naturally someone can be specially assigned to brew the medicine, so we need not rely on the Imperial Hospital anymore."

Jiang Yunran nodded. "Perhaps she saw someone adding something suspicious to the brewing medicine and acted cautiously."

"Yes."

Wei Xinzhu let out a bitter laugh. "I’ve always entrusted the affairs of Wangyue Palace to her. For five years, she did a perfect job. Out of habitual trust, I didn’t press further and simply followed her wishes."

"Later, Yin Zhui often seemed distracted. When I asked her what was wrong, she said she hadn’t been sleeping well lately and was lethargic, adding that *she’d be better in a while*."

But before that time came, she was gone.

Wei Xinzhu said, "That day, after returning from Changchun Palace, I asked Yin Zhui why she was so flustered. Yin Zhui only said her hand had slipped."

"My cough had flared up again those days, and I was feeling lightheaded and confused, so I didn’t press her further," Wei Xinzhu said, her eyes suddenly reddening. "It’s all my fault. All these years of illness—first a burden to my family, and now burdening Yin Zhui."

She blamed herself for always being sick.

If not for her frail and broken body, she might never have entered the palace, and she certainly wouldn’t have led to Yin Zhui’s early death.

Everyone in the palace said Yin Zhui was missing, but in their hearts, everyone knew that from the moment she disappeared, there was no longer a person named Yin Zhui in Changxin Palace.

She had already died.

Jiang Yunran suddenly took her hand.

Her hand was warm, so warm that it melted the chill in Wei Xinzhu's fingers.

"The past is behind us, sister. We must look forward."

Wei Xinzhu exhaled slowly.

She slowly calmed down before saying, "When something happened at home, I was very anxious, my mind was in chaos, and I immediately sent Yin Zhui out of the palace to check on them."

"I remember very clearly, Yin Zhui left Wangyue Palace right at 9 AM, but she hadn't returned by 5 PM."

"After such a long time, I had already calmed down and began to pick up on all sorts of irregularities."

"You also know that I have never been favored. Even now, as the Beauty Consort, it's only because His Majesty shows compassion to the Wei family, values the talents of my siblings, and appreciates my father's loyalty. It has nothing to do with me."

"If something happened at home, they would never bring word to the palace to me to upset me and worsen my illness," Wei Xinzhu looked at Jiang Yunran. "At that moment, I understood that someone must have deliberately acted to harm the Wei family."

What happened afterward, Jiang Yunran was already very clear about.

She nodded, looking at Wei Xinzhu's sickly appearance, and asked, "Who came to bring the news at that time?"

Wei Xinzhu had already recalled all the events of that day early on and answered without hesitation, "It was an Eunuch, very unfamiliar. I had never seen him before."

Jiang Yunran let out a breath, knowing this lead was useless.

After understanding the whole story, she asked again, "Why do you suspect the Ruan family?"

Wei Xinzhu gave a soft laugh, "Thinking back carefully, Yin Zhui asked to prepare the medicine herself on the third day after Mrs. Liao entered the palace. You are clever, sister. You must have already figured it out, which is why you chose to work with me."

Yes, Wei Xinzhu had analyzed everything very clearly.

Though embroiled in the matter, she was not lost perspective.

Jiang Yunran's analysis coincided with Wei Xinzhu's, and the facts proved exactly that.

Jiang Yunran looked at her and said, "If you had reported directly to His Majesty, he would never show favoritism or protect the Ruan family. Why did you choose to cooperate with me?"

Wei Xinzhu looked at her and slowly grasped her hand in return.

"Aren't you the same?"

"The carriage collision case must have been handled flawlessly by the Ruan family. There would be no traces left, and it couldn't be traced back to them. As for Yin Zhui's disappearance, there is still no evidence."

"His Majesty is the sovereign of the country, but he cannot level unfounded charges or condemn the Ruan family based solely on my suspicions."

"Even if he could, it would stir discontent among the court officials. Which family among the court officials hasn't done something shady?"

"In the end, they would probably just scapegoat a servant to die as a substitute."

Wei Xinzhu raised her eyes to look at her, her gaze still dark, without a trace of light.

But Jiang Yunran could clearly see her determination.

"If there's no evidence, I will fabricate evidence for them," Wei Xinzhu said. "I want the murderers to answer with their lives. I want Liao Shuyan to lose everything because of Yin Zhui's death. I want Ruan Handong to have no future from now on."

So, Wei Xinzhu sought out Jiang Yunran.

Because Jiang Yunran was the only one, besides Zhao Yi Murong, willing to brave the elements outside the palace on a snowy day to look for her.

She wanted to return this favor.

What she offered was her own life.

Jiang Yunran sighed.

"You have already made your choice," she said, looking at Wei Xinzhu. "I will not let you down."

Returning to Tingxue Palace, Jiang Yunran felt even dizzier.

She had gotten chilled the day before and slept poorly all night. Now, she could no longer hold on. After sitting for a while, she lay down.

As soon as her head touched the pillow, she fell into a deep sleep.

Qing Dai was somewhat worried and sent Qian Xiaoduo to summon the imperial doctor.

By noon, Qianyuan Palace had finally quieted down.

The important ministers from Lingyan Pavilion were all having a meal in Wenhua Hall, and no one was waiting for an audience with the emperor.

Jing Huayan sat at the dining table, drying his fingers with a handkerchief.

"Your Majesty, the Official Palace Maid serving Beauty Wei of Wangyue Palace has gone missing. Last night, Zhao Yi Murong and Consort Jiang went out of the palace to search for her. Later, Beauty Wei returned to the palace seriously ill, but the maid remains missing."

Jing Huayan paused while wiping his hands. He looked up at Liang Santai but said nothing.

Liang Santai hurriedly added, "Zhao Yi Murong reported to Noble Consort Yao, and Her Ladyship today ordered the palace staff to search all the remote palace buildings. So far, there have been no results."

For once, Liang Santai couldn't discern the emperor's thoughts.

"Last night, there was heavy snow."

Jing Huayan reminded him.

Liang Santai was taken aback before saying, "Consort Jiang is fine, just slightly ill with a cold. She has already reported sick today."

At this, Liang Santai noticed Jing Huayan's gloomy expression and quickly added with an awkward smile, "The Office of Imperial Affairs just sent this news. I was about to report it to Your Majesty."

Jing Huayan coldly acknowledged with a grunt and said, "Have the Imperial Guard keep an eye on Wei Xinying and Wei Xinya. Ensure nothing life-threatening happens to them."

"Yes."

After giving the orders, Jing Huayan seemed to return to normal, eating his meal unhurriedly.

Liang Santai thought the matter was over.

However, in the afternoon, Jing Huayan made mistakes in three memorials in a row. Finally, he threw down his brush in frustration and stood up abruptly.

"To Tingxue Palace."

Liang Santai swiftly picked up the cloak and followed behind him with quick, small steps.

"Ready the carriage to Tingxue Palace."

Eunuch Little Liu caught up and whispered, "Master, Consort Jiang has a cold. According to palace rules, she cannot meet with His Majesty."

Liang Santai shot him a glance, like he was dealing with a hopeless case. "You blockhead."

"If Consort Jiang cannot see His Majesty, who's to say His Majesty can't see her?"

It hit him: Eunuch Little Liu suddenly understood.

You could handle it that way?

Liang Santai’s face took on a knowing look. "And here I thought he didn't care."

And yet...

And yet, didn’t he still go running over anyway?